I tried a Mexican meal from a bright pink truck next to Cambridge station


Alchile is loved by locals who say the food is ‘outstanding’.

Alchile, the Mexican street food van parked outside Cambridge station

The last thing you want to do after a long day at work is cook a full meal – especially if you have to commute. Luckily for those travelling to and from Cambridge station, there are a few food trucks perfectly placed along the road outside the pubs and shops.

If you fancy treating yourself to some tasty food after a day in the office, you have a couple of options ideal for a post-pint snack. It is quite hard to miss the bright pink food truck in front of the Old Ticket Office and you will definitely not want to miss the food found inside.

Alchile describes itself as a “gourmet Mexican” food spot. Its name is from Mexican slang that means “something real and honest”, which is exactly the kind of food Alchile serves up.

The CamBites series sees CambridgeshireLive reporters go around the county in search of the cheapest places to eat. None of Alchile’s main dish options cost more than £11.50 making it a more affordable spot for some expertly made food.

The food truck has received a lot of praise from Cambridge residents who say the food is ‘outstanding’ and the staff are ‘delightful’. I received a warm welcome from the staff, who waited patiently for me and my friend to decide what we wanted from the wide variety of options on offer.

I ended up choosing the burrito and picked the pork carnitas as my filling, which cost £11. My friend chose the quesadillas and the al pastor filling, which also cost £11.

We decided to try a side of tortilla chips for £1.30 and a range of dips that each cost 70p. While waiting for our food, my friend and I sat on the tables and chairs placed next to the truck that are also bright pink to match the brand’s theme.

You could watch the food being put together in front of you and it was easy to tell it had been lovingly made. The burrito came wrapped tightly in tinfoil and was packed generously with fillings.

Alongside the tender pork carnitas, the burrito was also filled with black beans, rice, pico de gallo, lettuce, cheese, and jalapenos. All of the ingredients were wonderfully flavourful and worked well together to create a warm and satisfying meal.

My friend got three quesadillas topped with the al pastor beef and melty cheese. On the quesadillas, you can choose two extra toppings from things like cilantro, red pickled onion, and queso sauce.

Even the dips were incredible. The salsa had a strong tomato flavour that had been seasoned with a few herbs.

I don’t usually enjoy guacamole but the Alchile dip was so smooth and flavourful. The sour cream was wonderfully fresh, wasn’t too heavy, and would be great to calm down any spicy sauce you might add to the meal.

The tortilla chips added a lovely crunch to my meal and were great when smothered in the different dips. The whole meal was well balanced and homemade using high quality ingredients to create clean and refreshing dishes.

Considering the food truck’s location, the price is fairly reasonable and can be maximised depending on what meal you go for. If you are ever having a post-work drink in the Old Ticket Office or are too tired to cook for yourself, you should definitely try Alchile.

Alchile can be found outside Cambridge station. The food truck is open from 11am to 9:30pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 1pm to 9:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

All of our food reviews are paid for by the writer. The establishments do not know we will be reviewing their food, allowing us to make fair judgements on each place.


Best Chinese restaurants in Cambs to celebrate the Lunar New Year


We asked readers where their favourite Chinese restaurants were in the county in celebration of the Year of the Horse

Celebrations for the Lunar New Year will begin on Tuesday (February 17). In celebration of the coming Year of the Horse, we asked readers for their top picks for Chinese cuisine in Cambridgeshire.

The Lunar Year, based on the traditional Chinese calendar, begins with the first moon after the winter solstice. It is an important event celebrated throughout East and Southeast Asia.

Cambridgeshire has plenty of Chinese restaurants dotted around the county that you could visit to celebrate the Lunar New Year. If you are new to the area or want to try somewhere different, you might struggle to choose just one restaurant.

CambridgeshireLive asked its readers to share their favourite Chinese restaurants to help narrow down your options. Here are the three food spots that got the most votes.

Cinta

Location: 12 Post St, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, PE29 2BA

Taking third place in our survey is Cinta in Godmanchester. Many customers have praised the restaurant for its “absolutely fantastic” food, service, and atmosphere, with some going as far as to say it is the “best Chinese around”.

The restaurant serves a range of Chinese favourites as well as Malaysian options if you fancy something different. However, if you are thinking of visiting Cinta for Lunar New Year, you might want to book early, as the restaurant can get quite busy soon after opening.

Jade Fountain

Location: 42-46 High St, Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3BG

Sawston is a village just outside of Cambridge that is lucky to have a few great food spots. As well as a range of coffee shops and several pubs, the village is home to Jade Fountain, described as a “beloved gem”.

Customers mention the ‘delicious’ food and the restaurant’s many gluten-free options. Many people love the taster menu, which lets you try a range of dishes.

The Welcome

Location: 2-4 East St, St. Ives, PE27 5PB

Whether you want to dine in on Lunar New Year or fancy enjoying some restaurant-quality food from the comfort of your own home, The Welcome can do both. The restaurant has an extensive a la carte menu featuring a variety of Cantonese and Malaysian dishes.

The Welcome also offers a buffet menu at £30.90 per person, ideal for those wanting to try a bit of everything. You can get any of the dishes for takeaway to enjoy at home.


I enjoyed a classic British treat at a cute café where I was lucky to get a seat


The café was filled with people chatting and laughing away.

The cute Ely cafe with sweet bakes and cakes on offer

After a long walk around Ely, I was keen for a drink and a sweet treat. Strolling along the high street, I came across independent café Marmalade and Jam.

As I entered, there was one table left in the middle. I was lucky to get a seat, as only a few minutes after I entered, a group of people followed me in but couldn’t stay as there were no seats left.

I sat down and admired the cafe’s décor. It instantly gave me a cosy feel, with the eye-catching yellow feature wall that exuded happiness and positivity.

Before ordering at the till, I scanned the menu. This café offered a vast range of food and drink, ranging from large breakfasts to a range of bakes and cakes.

It was later in the afternoon, so although the breakfast dishes were very tempting, they weren’t quite right for that moment. So, I opted for a cream tea.

Instead of the pot of tea, I chose a raspberry lemonade, which the server was more than happy to replace. My drink came first, and it was a welcome sight. As I took a sip, the lemonade was cold and crisp – just what I needed. The raspberry sweetness came through straight away, with a refreshing edge.

Only a few minutes later, my food arrived. On my plate was a huge scone, with a dollop of jam and a dollop of clotted cream, each in its own pot. The scone was much larger than I thought, and I instantly knew this snack would tide me over until tea time.

I cut it in half and spread cream and jam on one half. The thick cream meant the scone, which crumbled in my mouth with its soft texture, wasn’t too dry but instead rich and comforting.

There were plenty of juicy raisins baked within the scone, giving it an extra sweetness. Combined, the thick, buttery scone with jam and cream was a perfect treat.

While I enjoyed my food, another thing I admired about the café was the chatter and laughter that surrounded me. There were friends catching up, but also couples enjoying an afternoon out together.

It showed me this was a friendly place where anyone and everyone can come. Anyone who is looking for a cosy café with a cute vibe should head to Marmalade and Jam.

All of our food reviews are paid for by the writer. The establishments do not know we will be reviewing their food, allowing us to make fair judgements on each place.